Get all revved up with these tips for getting your garage looking like a high-end car showroom.
We’ve all seen those magazine shots of garages that don’t look like ours. You know the kind, with the glassy, tyre-squeaking floor, and immaculate dust-free storage solutions for everything from winter boots to the wheelbarrow.
There’s no time like now (of course!) to get one too. And the good news is you can. Here are some ways to get started:
Too much stuff is generally reason number one as to why our garages don’t look like photoshoot versions, so step number one is obviously a declutter and classification. Go through absolutely everything, including the boxes you didn't unpack when you moved in, and sort into three piles: keep, donate/sell, and discard. Every time you’re working with a keeper, take it a step further, by categorising - simply group like with like to start with (in cardboard boxers or stackable clear plastic bins that you can use later) – this makes things much easier when you start on the storage.
Step two is a good lick of paint as besides looking instantly brighter and cleaner it will give you the motivation to carry on with the revamp. A simple white paint is a great rule of thumb – the cheapest and cleanest look of all, but obviously the options are endless.
Step three is to give some thought to your flooring. In general one of the most expensive parts of any building or renovation related project, flooring can make a huge difference to the overall look and feel of any space. Ideally you want a solid, crack free floor that can be easily cleaned and isn’t a home to any pests.
The market is full of clever and contemporary floor coatings for concrete and similar floors, such as epoxy and latex acrylic, as well as a variety of types of paint. Many of these include anti-skid, anti-oil and anti-mildew components, and while some are best xxx by a professional, there are others that can be done over a weekend. Considerations including budget and durability will probably form part of your decision, but whatever route you take, do start by making sure the existing floor is properly prepped and clean as this greatly influences the longevity of any coating.
While you are giving your garage floor a special once-over, make sure your garage door is playing its part too. Doors that don’t sit flush with the floor will let in rain, leaves, dust and bugs, so create a snug fit by attaching a rubberized strip to the floor where the door lands or to the bottom of the door.
Treat any other windows and doors in similar ways to be sure your garage environment will be as clean and dust free as possible.
Once you have a clean and well-sealed shell, your palette to organise the rest is far easier to work with.
Safety tip: A garage door can be one of the weakest links in your home’s security, install extra security bolts or padlocks that stop the doors opening mechanism that can be used when you are not using it daily, or going away.
